Malkangiri: Preparations by the district administration are at advanced stage even as people are excited ahead of the silver jubilee celebration of the formation of the district Sunday.
People across all sections of society in the district are in a festive mood to become part of the occasion, according to a report. Former Chief Minister Biju Patnanik was instrumental in according the district status to Malkangiri October 2, 1992. He was the one who realised the problems of the region and his role is unforgettable, locals here said.
Undivided Koraput district, located at the extreme end of southern Orissa, was surrounded by dense forest and was vulnerable to Maoist activities. Malkangiri was preferred ahead of Nabarangpur and got the status of a special sub-division in 1962 and was under Koraput collectorate.
Though Balimela reservoir was constructed on river Sileru in 1932, people of Malkangiri continued to remain backward in every sector. Hundreds of people had been displaced by the project. Realising the plight of people, Patnaik, much to their delight, had taken measures to recognise it as a district.
There were only 77 panchayats in the district before 1992 while the number has gone up to 111 in the last quarter of a century. The district has made enormous progress during this period, a report said.
Eighty-four primary school hostels, 52 ashram schools, 15 high schools, three upgraded primary schools, an Ekalabya residence school, three education complexes, 343 hostels bear testimony to the stride the district has taken. Nearly 32,000 SC/ST students have availed residential education through these institutions, it was learnt.
Similarly, the tribals have been provided with facilities like poultry, goatery and fishery to achieve self-sufficiency. State tribal welfare development has granted funds to construct several small and medium grade bridges and culverts to provide connectivity to the people of cutoff regions. Motorised boats have also been given to them to improve communication in the area, sources said.
While 30,847 forest dwellers have been issued land pattas, measures have been taken to increase the population of endangered Didayi and Bonda communities. On the other hand, Satiguda reservoir on the outskirts of Malkangiri town has been converted into a natural tourist destination which helps increase footfalls from neighbouring states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Chhattisgarh.
Other development works include a 600-bed hospital (under construction), new collectorate, office of commercial tax officer, Malkangiri-Balimela road widening project, inclusion of Padia, Motu, Kalimela, Malkangiri in Ranchi-Vijaywada corridor, setting up of a government ITI and an under construction Gurupriya bridge at Janbai.
However, some areas have escaped the attention of the administration, some elderly people of the town said.
“Though much development has been seen in urban pockets, several interior parts of the district lack the notice of the authorities,” 70-year-old Gangadhar Buruda said.
Another senior citizen R Bhima Rao said he used to travel in bullock cart with his father up to Mathili on their way to Koraput. Mode of communication has improved by leaps and bounds over last many years, he added.
Recalling the past, D Chandrasekhar Rao said, earlier it took more than 15 days to get a letter from outside the district which is not the case now. PNN
